MedSolution

MedSolution is a medical tourism company located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company arranges surgeries abroad for people hoping to avoid waiting lists or receive treatment at lower costs.

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According to their website, surgeries arranged through MedSolution are 30 to 90 per cent less than in the United States. Surgeries offered include: cardiac, orthopedic, gastric, urogenital, cosmetic and plastic.

MedSolution is one of the fastest-growing medical tourism companies and has received a significant amount of media coverage since its launch in November 2005. They are the first and only company in North America to facilitate patient access to France -- the number one ranked health care system by the World Health Organization.

They are currently partnered with one hospital in Ahmedabad, India – the Krishna Heart Institute. Established in 2000, it is known for its innovative diagnostics and treatment procedures, and its extensive work in areas such as cardiology and joint replacement.

In France, they are aligned with three hospitals. L’Institut Mutualiste Montsouris is recognized as one of Europe’s top hospitals for urology and cardiac surgical treatment. Le Clinique des Franciscaines, which specializes in minimal invasive surgery, has been in operation for 124 years and just two years ago moved to a brand-new facility. The Aesthetis Clinic offers the finest and most advanced cosmetic surgeries available.

Critics of the industry suggest that the western patients are taking away medical resources from local residents. But according to the MedSolution website, it is because of international patients that local residents’ treatments can be subsidized. For example, MedSolution’s hospital in India, Krishna Heart Institute, is a charity hospital. This means local patients pay reduced rates for their surgeries, as a result of international patients paying higher rates. Nonetheless, these prices are still significantly cheaper than one would pay in the United States.

Media Coverage

• Williams Lake Tribune, Oct. 28, 2005, "Medical tourism emerges"
• Oak Bay News, Nov. 30, 2005, "Book your surgical vacation today"
• Victoria News, Dec. 2, 2005, "Put an operation in your next vacation"
• Goldstream News Gazette, Dec. 7, 2005, "Book a surgical vacation"
• Burnaby Now, Dec. 21, 2005, "Candidates weigh in on 'medical tourism'"
• Penticton Western News, Jan. 6, 2006, "Company flies you to foreign health care"
• Prince Albert Daily Herald, Jan. 13, 2006 "Medical tourism offers no waiting lists"
• 24 Hours, Jan. 20, 2006, "Sun and surgery"
• Digby Courier, Jan. 25, 2006, "West coast company books surgical vacations"
• Halifax Daily News, Jan. 29, 2006, "Destination OR"